Twins GM Bill Smith doesn't think he should consider the Pirates' interest in Jason Kubel approaching the non-waiver trade deadline in Major League Baseball. Incredibly, at seven games under .500 and six games back - in fourth place, where they've been all summer - Smith sees his Twins as a contender entering the dog days.

A cursory glance at trade rumors and their roster leaves an impression that players could be moved. Jason Kubel, Michael Cuddyer, Jose Mijares (before he imploded on the mound against the Rangers in a recent 20-6 loss), Kevin Slowey, and Denard Span have come up in trade rumors.

While I personally think it would be a long-term mistake to move Span, a few others could be added to that roster of ejector-seat candidates.

Francisco Liriano has only hurt his own trade value all season long and the Twins would have likely been better off to have moved him in spring training. Matt Capps could go. Carl Pavano could be sent to a contender in need of a number six or seven starter. Delmon Young becomes eligible for free agency after the 2012 season.

Slowey, Kubel, Cuddyer, Capps, Young. These five could bring a haul of five to ten prospects (or more, with the Twins' legacy of garnering the right players seemingly most of the time) worth considering as a long-term investment by the budget-conscious Twins.

Jim Thome gives the fans in Minnesota something to watch, especially on his push for home run number 600. It's hard to imagine, but even he might understand why the Twins would decide it is finally time to make some changes and allow his bat to go on to a bench for a contender in need of his considerable country-strong power.

This isn't exactly a rebuilding process. The core is solid. The pitching looks like it will keep coming from the minors thanks to some smart drafts and some decent luck.

But this is not going to be a penant year for the Twins. Cut bait now and get that roster refreshed with an injection of new prospects to add to the pool.

Otherwise, good luck, Bill Smith. You'll be staring up at third place in mid-September wondering why you didn't see this coming.

Although I left Minnesota in 1989, I remain a part-time Twins fan. Call it KirbyPuckettitis. I was once rabid and have fallen back to your regular, ordinary buff. In reality, I truly and deeply love baseball, and the Twins are among the nearer objects of my affection - along with my poor, sad, adopted Oakland Athletics.

When I watch an offseason progress, I care not what four-letter networks report as breaking news in the Northeast. Neither does 90% of the American population, though, so I realize I'm not alone and do the best I can with what little I'm given (come back to the West, Pedro Gomez).

Among the many reasons that I love the Twins is that they are crafty chess players. They have become masters of the parlay. They sometimes get lucky (see AJ Pierzynski for Boof Bonser, Francisco Liriano, and Joe Nathan). Sometimes, they are just dead right about a player who doesn't fit. Matt Garza remains a player with a bad attitude. Rumor has it he'll get moved by the Rays partly because he still Cadillacs it between starts. Grow up, child.

More often, they convert over time player after player in a fashion that would require ages to reveal the genius. Here we note that three regulars in the 2010 Twins lineup were results of the Chuck Knoblauch trade in 1998. Possibly even more brilliant is that they've recently renewed that cycle to net a minor leaguer with years of forward potential still... from Chuck Knoblauch.

Brian Duensing, Delmon Young, and Nick Punto all remained contributors on the 25-man roster throughout the 2010 season.

Genius.

Unfortunately, their recent playoff runs have not been so remarkable. The offense seems to be there. The starting pitching might be the single easiest thing to which a fan could point as a shortcoming. The Twins' rotation is full of contributors. But for a World Series contender, these typical number threes and fours would not be on the frontline, with the possible exception of a recuperated Francisco Liriano.

The Twins need an Ace. The current rotation of Liriano, Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn, and Brian Duensing might cut it for 162 games, especially with Kyle Gibson waiting in the wings, but it won't mow down the wild card team in round one.

Rumor mills across the hot stove seem to have linked the Twins to Zack Greinke and Brandon Webb, current and former Aces. Here is my twist on this idea, Dearest Mr. Smith.

Get them all, and then some.

Trade Kevin Slowey, Aaron Hicks, and a third (and fourth?) player for Zack Greinke. Sign Brandon Webb to an injury-discounted contract. Push Blackburn back into the bullpen, ready to start at the first sign of a sore shoulder.

Even better, do all of the above and additionally trade with the Mariners for Erik Bedard in another injury-discounted deal.